diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/monitoring/zabbix/zabbix_host.py b/lib/ansible/modules/monitoring/zabbix/zabbix_host.py
index 572dd15d5ce..69f669d10fa 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/monitoring/zabbix/zabbix_host.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/monitoring/zabbix/zabbix_host.py
@@ -252,13 +252,13 @@ EXAMPLES = '''
         useip: 1
         ip: 10.xx.xx.xx
         dns: ""
-        port: 10050
+        port: "10050"
       - type: 4
         main: 1
         useip: 1
         ip: 10.xx.xx.xx
         dns: ""
-        port: 12345
+        port: "12345"
     proxy: a.zabbix.proxy
 - name: Update an existing host's TLS settings
   local_action:
@@ -780,6 +780,11 @@ def main():
                 interface['ip'] = ''
             if 'main' not in interface:
                 interface['main'] = 0
+            if 'port' in interface and not isinstance(interface['port'], str):
+                try:
+                    interface['port'] = str(interface['port'])
+                except ValueError:
+                    module.fail_json(msg="port should be convertable to string on interface '%s'." % interface)
             if 'port' not in interface:
                 if interface['type'] == 1:
                     interface['port'] = "10050"
@@ -840,7 +845,7 @@ def main():
                             interface.pop(key, None)
 
                     for index in interface.keys():
-                        if index in ['useip', 'main', 'type', 'port']:
+                        if index in ['useip', 'main', 'type']:
                             interface[index] = int(interface[index])
 
                     if interface not in interfaces:
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/zabbix_host/tasks/zabbix_host_doc.yml b/test/integration/targets/zabbix_host/tasks/zabbix_host_doc.yml
index 41690947ca4..dfdd2001c61 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/zabbix_host/tasks/zabbix_host_doc.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/zabbix_host/tasks/zabbix_host_doc.yml
@@ -36,13 +36,13 @@
         useip: 1
         ip: 10.1.1.1
         dns: ""
-        port: 10050
+        port: "10050"
       - type: 4
         main: 1
         useip: 1
         ip: 10.1.1.1
         dns: ""
-        port: 12345
+        port: "12345"
   register: zabbix_host1
 
 - name: Update an existing host's tls settings
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@
         useip: 1
         ip: 10.1.1.2
         dns: ""
-        port: 10050
+        port: "10050"
     host_groups:
       - Linux servers
     tls_psk_identity: test
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/zabbix_host/tasks/zabbix_host_tests.yml b/test/integration/targets/zabbix_host/tasks/zabbix_host_tests.yml
index af952519082..1f51677bea3 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/zabbix_host/tasks/zabbix_host_tests.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/zabbix_host/tasks/zabbix_host_tests.yml
@@ -31,13 +31,19 @@
         useip: 1
         ip: 10.1.1.1
         dns: ""
-        port: 10050
+        port: "10050"
+      - type: 1
+        main: 0
+        useip: 1
+        ip: 10.1.1.1
+        dns: ""
+        port: "{$MACRO}"
       - type: 4
         main: 1
         useip: 1
         ip: 10.1.1.1
         dns: ""
-        port: 12345
+        port: "12345"
     proxy: ExampleProxy
     tls_psk_identity: test
     tls_connect: 2
@@ -80,13 +86,19 @@
         useip: 1
         ip: 10.1.1.1
         dns: ""
-        port: 10050
+        port: "10050"
+      - type: 1
+        main: 0
+        useip: 1
+        ip: 10.1.1.1
+        dns: ""
+        port: "{$MACRO}"
       - type: 4
         main: 1
         useip: 1
         ip: 10.1.1.1
         dns: ""
-        port: 12345
+        port: "12345"
     proxy: ExampleProxy
     tls_psk_identity: test
     tls_connect: 2
@@ -98,6 +110,118 @@
       that:
           - "not zabbix_host1 is changed"
 
+- name: "test: try to create the same host with the same settings and force false"
+  zabbix_host:
+    force: false
+    server_url: "{{ zabbix_server_url }}"
+    login_user: "{{ zabbix_login_user }}"
+    login_password: "{{ zabbix_login_password }}"
+    host_name: ExampleHost
+    visible_name: ExampleName
+    description: My ExampleHost Description
+    host_groups:
+      - Linux servers
+      - Zabbix servers
+    link_templates:
+      - Template App IMAP Service
+      - Template App NTP Service
+    status: enabled
+    state: present
+    inventory_mode: manual
+    inventory_zabbix:
+      tag: test-tag
+      alias: test-alias
+      notes: "Special Informations: test-info"
+      location: test-location
+      site_rack: test-rack
+      os: test-os
+      hardware: test-hw
+    interfaces:
+      - type: 1
+        main: 1
+        useip: 1
+        ip: 10.1.1.1
+        dns: ""
+        port: "10050"
+      - type: 1
+        main: 0
+        useip: 1
+        ip: 10.1.1.1
+        dns: ""
+        port: "{$MACRO}"
+      - type: 4
+        main: 1
+        useip: 1
+        ip: 10.1.1.1
+        dns: ""
+        port: "12345"
+    proxy: ExampleProxy
+    tls_psk_identity: test
+    tls_connect: 2
+    tls_psk: 123456789abcdef123456789abcdef12
+  register: zabbix_host1
+
+- name: updating with same values and force false should be idempotent
+  assert:
+      that:
+          - "not zabbix_host1 is changed"
+
+- name: "test: try to create the same host changing one parameter in the inventory with force false"
+  zabbix_host:
+    force: false
+    server_url: "{{ zabbix_server_url }}"
+    login_user: "{{ zabbix_login_user }}"
+    login_password: "{{ zabbix_login_password }}"
+    host_name: ExampleHost
+    visible_name: ExampleName
+    description: My ExampleHost Description
+    host_groups:
+      - Linux servers
+      - Zabbix servers
+    link_templates:
+      - Template App IMAP Service
+      - Template App NTP Service
+    status: enabled
+    state: present
+    inventory_mode: manual
+    inventory_zabbix:
+      tag: test-tag
+      alias: test-alias
+      notes: "Special Informations: test-info"
+      location: test-location
+      site_rack: test-rack
+      os: test-os
+      hardware: test-hw-modified
+    interfaces:
+      - type: 1
+        main: 1
+        useip: 1
+        ip: 10.1.1.1
+        dns: ""
+        port: "10050"
+      - type: 1
+        main: 0
+        useip: 1
+        ip: 10.1.1.1
+        dns: ""
+        port: "{$MACRO}"
+      - type: 4
+        main: 1
+        useip: 1
+        ip: 10.1.1.1
+        dns: ""
+        port: "12345"
+    proxy: ExampleProxy
+    tls_psk_identity: test
+    tls_connect: 2
+    tls_psk: 123456789abcdef123456789abcdef12
+  register: zabbix_host1
+
+- name: changing the value of an already defined inventory should work and mark task as changed
+  assert:
+      that:
+          - "zabbix_host1 is changed"
+
 - name: "test: change visible_name"
   zabbix_host:
     server_url: "{{ zabbix_server_url }}"
@@ -524,7 +648,7 @@
         useip: 1
         ip: 10.1.1.1
         dns: ""
-        port: 10050
+        port: "10050"
   register: zabbix_host1
 
 - name: expect to succeed and that things have changed
@@ -544,7 +668,7 @@
         useip: 1
         ip: 10.1.1.1
         dns: ""
-        port: 10050
+        port: "10050"
   register: zabbix_host1
 
 - name: expect to succeed and that things have not changed
@@ -564,7 +688,7 @@
         useip: 1
         ip: 10.1.1.1
         dns: ""
-        port: 12345
+        port: "12345"
     force: no
   register: zabbix_host1
 
@@ -585,13 +709,13 @@
         useip: 1
         ip: 10.1.1.1
         dns: ""
-        port: 10050
+        port: "10050"
       - type: 4
         main: 1
         useip: 1
         ip: 10.1.1.1
         dns: ""
-        port: 12345
+        port: "12345"
   register: zabbix_host1
 
 - name: expect to succeed and that things have not changed